The Gaps-in-Noise Test: Gap Detection Thresholds in Normal-Hearing Young Adults

The aim of this study was to establish parameters for the Gaps-in-Noise test in normal-hearing young adults. One hundred subjects (50 males and 50 females) received an audiological evaluation to rule out hearing loss and auditory processing disorder. The Gaps-in-Noise test was then conducted on all subjects. The mean gap detection threshold was 4.19 msec. A psychometric function by gap duration was constructed, revealing that the percentage of correct responses was less than or equal to 5% for a gap duration of 2 msec, 10-30% for a gap duration of 3 msec, 60-70% for a gap duration of 4 msec, and over 96% for gap durations of 5 msec or longer. The results suggest that the data obtained can be applied as reference values for future testing. In the subjects evaluated, the Gaps-in-Noise test proved to be consistent with low variability.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Auditory Perception; Psychoacoustics

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 100

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Brazil
  • Sao Paulo, Brazil
    • University of Sao Paulo

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 31 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Normal-hearing adults between 18 and 31 years of age were evaluated, including 50 males (mean age 24.72 years) and 50 females (mean age 23.77 years). The youngest male subject was 18 years old, and the youngest female subject was 18.16 years old. In contrast, the oldest male subject was 31.5 years old, and the oldest female subject was 31.83 years old. All of the participants in the study were students or employees of the University of Guarulhos.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Subject inclusion criteria were:

• all of the subjects have to have auditory thresholds lower than 20 dB HL at all of the frequencies evaluated (octave frequencies between 0.25 to 8 kHz), bilaterally;
• type A tympanometric curves with presented ipsilateral and contralateral acoustic reflexes;
• 95% or higher correct responses for each ear in the dichotic digit test.

Subject inclusion criteria also included negative histories for audiologic, otologic, head trauma, and neurologic involvement.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Hearing loss;
• Auditory processing disorder;
• Histories of audiologic, otologic, head trauma, and neurologic involvement.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
1; Normal-hearing adults between 18 and 31 years of age.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
gap detection test	half hour

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Sao Paulo
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: alessandra G. Samelli, Doctor, Guarulhos University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: March 1, 2003
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): June 1, 2004
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): June 1, 2004

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 3, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 14, 2008
• First Posted (ESTIMATE): January 15, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE): January 15, 2008
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 14, 2008
• Last Verified: January 1, 2008

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: auditory perception; GIN test; gap detection; temporal resolution; psychoacoustics
• Other Study ID Numbers: 113 / 02; 113/02 de 03/13/2002